The Latest on Dave Ream’s Consulting Contract

By |April 1, 2011

Questions are swirling around Santa Ana City Hall over the status of retired City Manager Dave Ream, as some staffers are unsure whether Ream is acting as interim city manager or is simply consulting the city as it transitions to new management.

Under the terms of his independent consulting contract — it turns out Ream is actually doing both. Ream is still performing the usual duties of a city manager for $8,000 per month through May 31, according to his contract. The contract says he will also assist in transitioning “as requested” to a new city manager.

Ream abruptly retired earlier this month after more than 30 years of service to the city, the latest, and most significant, departure in what has become a major turnover of city leadership. In recent months, both City Attorney Joe Fletcher and former Deputy City Manager Cindy Nelson have left the city’s employ.

City Council is weighing interim city management options after Ream’s consulting contract ends, including having Jan Perkins, a former assistant city manager and a consultant with Management Partners, Inc., temporarily manage the city.

Management Partners, inc., will also be conducting a citywide financial review and will help with budget related issues, some council members said.

Councilwoman Christina Shea has built her political career on rooting out corruption surrounding the Great Park. But what she’s doing behind the scenes for a consulting client is also crossing ethical lines, a government ethics expert says.

In 2009, the Santa Ana City Council triggered controversy by awarding a consulting contract to Cordoba Corp., even though the firm was the lowest ranked among bidders. In recent weeks, the firm has been quietly excluded from a new consulting contract.